Recent Mars meteorite crashes ‘could reveal clues about planet’s origin’

Vibrations caused by meteorites' impact gives scientists insight into Martian crust structure

An artist's impression of an impact crater on Mars. PA

Scientists are aiming to understand more about how Mars was formed by analysing data from two large meteorite impacts on the Red Planet.

Two large craters measuring upwards of 130 metres in diameter were caused when space rocks crashed into the Martian surface at different times in the latter half of 2021.

The vibrations caused by both impacts were discovered by Nasa’s InSight lander — which touched down on Mars in 2018.

These vibrations, or seismic surface waves, gave scientists insight into the structure of the Martian crust, which may hold important clues about the origin and evolution of the planet.

“This is the first time seismic surface waves have been observed on a planet other than Earth,” said Doyeon Kim, a geophysicist and senior research scientist at ETH Zurich’s Institute of Geophysics.

“Not even the Apollo missions to the Moon managed it.”

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The researchers used data from the Insight lander to determine the structure of the crust at depths of between about five and 30 kilometres below the surface of Mars.

They found that the crust was denser than previously thought.

The team said its new findings are “remarkable” because a planet’s crust provides important clues about how it formed and evolved billions of years ago.

The scientists said their work could also help solve a centuries-old mystery: the Martian dichotomy.

The Martian dichotomy is described as the sharp contrast between the volcanic lowlands of the northern hemisphere and a plateau covered by meteorite craters in the southern hemisphere.

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“As things stand, we don’t yet have a generally accepted explanation for the dichotomy because we’ve never been able to see the planet’s deep structure,” said Domenico Giardini, ETH Zurich professor of seismology and geodynamics.

“But now we’re beginning to uncover this.”

The researchers said that their initial analysis suggests that both hemispheres may be structurally similar at lower depths, despite appearing different on surface.

They believe that, contrary to previous research, the north and the south are not likely to be composed of different materials.

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The findings are reported in two separate papers in the journal Science.

Meanwhile, another team of international researchers analysed data from Insight’s seismometer, which has recorded more than 1,300 marsquakes.

Based on their findings, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, the experts believe volcanic activity is still present on the planet and shaping the Martian surface, with magma — hot molten and semi-molten liquid — flowing beneath.